17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and ^pa holiday. ^qAnd many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, ^rfor fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

1 ^sNow in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, ^ton the thirteenth day of the same, ^uwhen the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, ^jon the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them. 2 ^vThe Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, ^wfor the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and ^xthe satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.